a
member's wife."

From 1866 to 1880 the proportion of lying-in claims to membership slowly
rose from 21.76 to 24.78 per 100. From 1880 to the present time it has
continuously declined, until now it is only between 14 and 15 per 100.

The following table (from the annual reports of the Committee of
Management of the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society, and those of the
Registrar-General) shows, for each year from 1866 to 1895 inclusive, the
number of members in the Hearts of Oak Friendly Society at the
beginning of the year, the number of those who received Lying-in Benefit
during the year, the percentage of these to the membership at the
beginning of the year, and the birth-rate per thousand of the whole
population of England and Wales.

HEARTS OF OAK FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

Year. Number of Number of Cases Percentage of England and
Members at of lying-in cases paid to Wales: births
the beginning Benefit paid total Membership per 1000 of
of each year. during year. at beginning the total
of year. population.

1866 10,571 2,300 21.76 35.2
1867 12,051 2,853 23.68 35.4
1868 13,568 3,075 22.66 35.8
1869 15,903 3,509 22.07 34.8
1870 18,369 4,173 22.72 35.2
1871 21,484 4,685 21.81 35.0
1872 26,510 6,156 23.22 35.6
1873 32,837 7,386 22.49 35.4
1874 40,740 9,603 23.57 36.0
1875 51,144 13,103 23.66 35.4
1876 64,421 15,473 24.02 36.3
1877 76,369 18,423 24.11 36.0
1878 84,471 20,409 24.16 35.5
1879 90,603 22,057 24.34 34.7
1880 91,986 22,740 24.72 34.2
1881 93,615 21,950 23.45 33.9
1882 96,006 21,860 22.77 33.8
1883 98,873 21,577 21.82 33.5
1884 104,339 21,375 20.51